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Hurricane Irene Hits East Coast Hurricane Irene pounded coastal regions of North Carolina, Virginia and neighboring states as it headed north on a track expected to take the storm right over New York City and into New England later this weekend.
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Hurricane Irene Hits East Coast

Hurricane Irene pounded coastal regions of the east coast.
To Dodge Blame, Officials Prep Public For Worst

In preparing the public for a disaster, officials want to make the right call, but they also want to avoid blame. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

Hidden Brain

To Dodge Blame, Officials Prep Public For Worst

Because people are more likely to blame public officials if there is a repeat of a previous disaster, officials tend to disproportionately focus their safety efforts on preventing similar disasters in the future, researchers say. So, for example, officials might over-react to a hurricane in light of Katrina, even if the real threat to public safety may lie elsewhere.

To Dodge Blame, Officials Prepare Public For Worst

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Rebuilding After Irene Is Not Going To Boost The Economy

In Pompton Lakes, N.J., earlier this week, Gino Borova stood in the driveway of his house — which was flooded by water from the Ramapo River. Julio Cortez/AP hide caption

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Julio Cortez/AP

The Two-Way

Rebuilding After Irene Is Not Going To Boost The Economy

The idea that money spent on fixing the billions in damages will be good for the overall economy is known as the "broken window fallacy," Planet Money's Adam Davidson says. In reality, spending is just shifted around.

Steve Inskeep and Adam Davidson on Irene's economic effects

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N.J. Chef: 'It's A Disaster In Here' After Irene

Sallee Tee's restaurant in Monmouth Beach, N.J., was flooded following Hurricane Irene. Courtesy of Andrew West hide caption

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Courtesy of Andrew West

N.J. Chef: 'It's A Disaster In Here' After Irene

Hurricane Irene tore a path through some big coastal tourist destinations. That means some restaurants will miss out on Labor Day, usually a big weekend. In Monmouth Beach, N.J., Sallee Tee's Grille was flooded. And its chef-manager says it may take weeks to rebuild.

N.J. Chef: 'It's A Disaster In Here' After Irene

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Irene Travel Disruptions Continue

Two days after the departure of Irene, traveling up and down the East Coast remains a daunting challenge for many. Some air travelers remain stranded at major airports. And passenger rail service is still disrupted between Philadelphia and New York, one of the most heavily traveled corridors in the country.

Irene Travel Disruptions Continue

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Irene Flooding Damages Roads, Strands Towns

A section of Highway 12 in Hatteras Island, N.C., was flooded when Hurricane Irene tore through the area on Saturday. The storm cut off the roadway in five locations. Steve Helber/AP hide caption

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Steve Helber/AP

Irene Flooding Damages Roads, Strands Towns

Hundreds of roads and scores of bridges remained impassable days after the massive storm cut a treacherous swath across 11 states. In some rural and coastal communities, those roads and bridges were the sole access routes. Vermont's National Guard was airlifting supplies to nearly a dozen cut-off towns.

Irene Forces Laptop Users To Find WiFi Outlets

WSHU

In addition to the frustration of food spoiling in refrigerators and darkened homes, the loss of the Internet is heightening the anxieties of power-less utility customers. In some towns, free WiFi coffee shops have become a hot spot for the disconnected.

Irene Forces Laptop Users To Find WiFi Outlets

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Flash Floods Force Daring Rescue In Upstate N.Y.

NCPR

Parts of upstate New York were hit hard by Tropical Storm Irene — high winds and a wall of heavy rain swept away homes and bridges. Dozens of major highways, including sections of interstates 87 and 90, were closed to traffic.

Flash Floods Force Daring Rescue In Upstate N.Y.

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Costs Of Irene Add Up As FEMA Runs Out Of Cash

Jarrid Gonyea and his wife, Michelle, check out damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene on Hurricane Road in Keene, N.Y., on Monday. The costs of the storm that stretched across the Eastern Seaboard are estimated to be in the billions. Hans Pennink/AP hide caption

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Hans Pennink/AP

Costs Of Irene Add Up As FEMA Runs Out Of Cash

It's not yet certain what the total cost of Hurricane Irene will be, but it's likely to add up to several billion dollars. That means tough choices for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has had to deal with a string of natural disasters this year.

Costs Of Irene Add Up As FEMA Runs Out Of Cash

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In Irene, Politicians Navigate Tides Of Public Opinion

On Saturday, President Obama and FEMA administrator Craig Fugate attended a video teleconference led by FEMA as Irene made its way up the Eastern Seaboard. Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Pool/Getty Images

In Irene, Politicians Navigate Tides Of Public Opinion

President Obama, like every other politician in America, has the lessons of Hurricane Katrina seared into his memory. During and after Hurricane Irene, he and his team appeared on top of the situation. But natural disasters are one of the ironies of politics — a competent response won't help much, but an incompetent one can really hurt.

In Irene, Politicians Navigate Tides Of Public Opinion

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Irene Is Gone, But Disruptions Remain

A man rests at the Trenton, N.J., train station on Monday, where some commuters were caught off guard when they found there were no trains. Damage from Hurricane Irene forced New Jersey Transit to suspend rail service. Mel Evans/AP hide caption

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Mel Evans/AP

Irene Is Gone, But Disruptions Remain

Irene's sweep up the East Coast caused millions to lose power this past weekend — many of whom may not have it restored for days. And although most mass transit systems are up and running again, long-distance travelers aren't so lucky: They're stranded at airports and rail stations across the region.

Irene Disrupts Power, Commutes, Travel Plans

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East Coast Starts To Add Up Irene's Economic Blow

Irene destroyed much of the two-mile boardwalk in Spring Lake, N.J. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

East Coast Starts To Add Up Irene's Economic Blow

It's still early to make exact pronouncements about how much damage Irene caused, and President Obama says the cleanup in many areas will be tough. But overall, the storm appears to have caused much less damage than forecasters said was possible.

East Coast Starts To Add Up Irene's Economic Blow

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Cleanup Begins In Irene's Deadly Wake

A surfer in Long Beach, N.Y., passes heavy machinery Monday that was removing the remnants of a lifeguard shack that was knocked off its footing during Irene. Craig Ruttle/AP hide caption

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Craig Ruttle/AP

Cleanup Begins In Irene's Deadly Wake

The death toll from the storm rose to 35 as residents of mid-Atlantic and Northeast states began assessing the damage wrought by the destructive storm. Millions were still without power, and torrential floodwaters threatened towns in Vermont and elsewhere.

Conn. Town Copes With Irene's Fading Wrath

The worst of Tropical Storm Irene has passed New York, but it's still causing havoc in southern New England. The town of Stonington, Conn., is dealing with downed power lines, flooding and fire. Guest host John Ydstie talks to Ed Haberek Jr. Stonington's director of Emergency Management.

Conn. Town Copes With Irene's Fading Wrath

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Opinion

Reporter's Notebook

New York City, The Night Before The Storm

Tropical Storm Irene is hitting New York City Sunday morning, but Saturday night in lower Manhattan, people weren't quite sure what to expect from the storm. NPR's Caitlin Kenney describes what it was like in her neighborhood.

New York City, The Night Before The Storm

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